Lions ‘play-bite’ kids at Free State game farm

[Keith]

Lions ‘play-bite’ kids at Free State game farm

2010/01/07

Bloemfontein – Two sisters were “attacked” by lionesses at a Free State lion farm, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The girls, aged three and five, had visited the Weltevreden Lion Farm between Heilbron and Sasolburg with their family at the weekend.

The newspaper quoted the girls’ mother, Lozelle van Heerden, saying the family took an escorted walk through the lion farm, after two adult lion males had been led to an isolated camp.

“The guide told us lions always chose the easiest and smallest prey, but the children were still allowed to play with the lions in the camp.” The youngest girl, Milla, apparently bent down to pet one of the lions, when an eight-month-old lioness jumped on her from behind and got hold of her ponytail. Van Heerden said it was a battle to get the lion off the girl and she received several bite and scratch wounds to her head.

Another lioness bit the older sister, Anzelle, on her bottom while her mother was carrying her on her hip. The family was led to safety by the farm’s owner, Nico Roets.

Roets said the lions were dangerous wild animals, not teddy bears. “People don’t realise that and just want to touch and pet them.” He said the attacks were only “play- bites and not bites to eat or harm”.

The children were treated for light injuries at the Midvaal Hospital in Vereeniging. – Sapa

Crazy stuff indeed!! Stupid actually on both the parent and the owner of the farm's side.